Dryer Vent Fires in Pueblo, Pueblo West & Colorado Springs: Prevention and Smoke Cleanup

When the weather turns cold, dryers run more, doors and windows stay shut and laundry piles up. A dryer is also one of the appliances that can quietly become a fire hazard, because lint builds up in the vent and the hot air has nowhere to go. We want you to avoid that call to us, so here is what to watch for.

Warning signs your dryer vent is clogged

• Clothes take more than one cycle to dry.
• The top of the dryer or the laundry room feels unusually hot.
• You smell a hot or burning odor while it runs.
• The flap on the outside vent doesn't open much, or you find lint around it.
• The vent hose is crushed behind the dryer, which is easy to do when pushing it against the wall.

Simple prevention

1. Clean the lint screen every load.
2. Clean the vent duct at least once a year, more often with a large family or a long run. Disconnect the hose, vacuum or brush out lint and check the outside hood.
3. Use rigid or semi-rigid metal ducting rather than thin plastic or foil accordion hose, and keep the run as short and straight as practical.
4. Don't run the dryer when you leave the house or go to sleep.
5. Keep the area clear of cleaning products, boxes and clothing piles.
6. Mind what goes in. Items stained with cooking oil or flammable products shouldn't go in a dryer; check manufacturer guidance on those.
7. Test your smoke alarms and keep a fire extinguisher where you can reach it without crossing the fire.

If a dryer fire starts

Get everyone out and call 911 first. Don't open the dryer door if there are flames inside, since that feeds oxygen to the fire. Leave the home and wait for the fire department. After the fire is out, wait for the all-clear before going back in.

What cleanup looks like

Even a small laundry-room fire can spread smoke and soot through the whole house. Soot is acidic and oily, and the odor can linger in insulation, ductwork and soft goods if it isn't dealt with. Then there is the water from the hoses, which adds a water damage problem on top of the smoke.

Our process, in plain terms: we secure the property, assess what is char, soot or water damage, remove what can't be saved, clean surfaces with the right methods for the type of soot, treat odors and dry out the structure. Our guide on getting smoke smell out after a fire goes into more detail on odor, and our fire and smoke damage service page outlines the full scope.

Our crew includes IICRC-certified technicians. We also work with your insurance company on documentation; if you've just had a loss, our property damage documentation checklist will help you keep track of what you need.

Related reading

If it was a heater rather than a dryer, see our post on space heater and electrical fire cleanup in Cañon City and Florence. Local pages: Pueblo, Pueblo West and Colorado Springs.

We're veteran-owned and family-run out of Colorado City, and we show up for neighbors across Southern Colorado.

Had a fire or smoke event? Call Stars and Bars at (719) 676-2456, any hour.

Stars and Bars Restoration | Serving All of Southern Colorado | IICRC Certified | Veteran-Owned | (719) 676-2456 | services@sb-resto.com